En Garde! Gastonia couple starts fencing club

Sunday

Apr 27, 2014 at 12:01 AMApr 27, 2014 at 9:06 PM

Forget running on the treadmill or getting on the elliptical. Members of a new fitness club get their exercise by swordfighting.

Andrea Honaker

Forget running on the treadmill or getting on the elliptical. Members of a new fitness club get their exercise by swordfighting. A month ago, Gastonia resident Sean Bates and his fiancée, Laura Roberts, opened Queen City Fencing in Charlotte. Bates’ love of the sport began in 1992 when he was in high school in Kansas City, and he still competes at local, regional and national levels. “It’s something that I’ve been involved in for a long time, so (starting the club) was an opportunity to give back some of the opportunities that I’ve been given over the years,” Bates said. Fencers can travel the world, represent their country and pursue special scholarships, which they have a better chance of receiving because fewer people are involved in fencing than in sports like basketball and football. It’s also a good source of cardio exercise, Bates said. The scholarship aspect was one of the things that drew 15-year-old Alex Matthew to the sport. The Highland School of Technology student has been fencing with Bates for about nine months now. “I’m going to try and do it through college and see if I can possibly get a scholarship for fencing,” Matthew said.

The art of fencing According to www.Olympic.org, swordplay dates all the way back to 1190 B.C. Duals were common in 16th, 17th and 18th centuries and were often fatal. But as a sport, fencing developed in the 1500s, and it’s been a part of the Olympics since 1896. “The basic object is to touch your opponent without being touched yourself,” Bates said. Charlotte Fencing Club teaches students the various ways to achieve that. In a game, players receive points for touching their challenger with their sword, according to USA Fencing. There are three kinds of weapons — saber, epee or foil — each with their own specific game rules on the body target area and type of touch (the tip or edge of the sword, for example) that counts in scoring. “It’s really fun, and swordfighting is every kid’s dream,” Matthew said. Fencers wear a mask, gloves and a jacket and pants with special lining for protection. Even if the blade breaks, it can’t go through this gear, making it “very rare that somebody gets hurt,” Bates said.

Growing potential Queen City Fencing has an open floor space, with six areas for participants to practice. Fencers can get one-on-one instruction from Bates and practice on their own or with a group. They can learn at their own pace and work to whatever skill level they desire, he said. “Things have been very positive,” Bates said. “Students are really starting to get more involved in it. They’re starting to see some potential involved in it. It’s always a joy to watch them grow.” Matthew practices at the club three times a week and has competed in tournaments in Matthews and Greenville, S.C. He said he can tell that he’s becoming a better fencer, and now he can even win some matches. The club is open to people of any age and skill level, but Bates recommends that students be no younger than 7 years old. There are about 20 students so far. Beginning fencers pay $60 a month, with all equipment provided, and those at intermediate levels pay $80 and have access to more classes. Bates said fencing is a sport that a person can stay with “as long as your body is willing to keep moving.” It’s his goal to produce some Olympic fencing champions right here in Charlotte.